I heard a joke recently that made me chuckle because, well, when you know, you know. It went something like this:
You walk into a room of 100 people. How do you spot the one that has run a marathon?
Don’t worry – they’ll tell you.
Did I mention that I ran a marathon?
I may have alluded to it once or twice. Yes, I did it! London, 2nd October 2022, that was me. 26.2 miles, running non-stop for hours. Huge box ticked; long-standing ambition complete.
Running the London Marathon was the most physically challenging and exhilarating thing I’ve ever done, aside from pregnancy and childbirth.
I can see why people find the sport so addictive. The high is hard to match. Running at speed for such a distance felt metaphysical; akin to an out-of-body experience. My mind motored my body in a way that makes no earthly sense.
But beyond the high from the physical side of things, the sense of achievement at completing a target (albeit unnecessary and self-imposed) cannot be underestimated.
This year, it was my turn to spectate from the side-lines and cheer my husband on as he ran his first marathon. After witnessing him train for months – running for hours at a time, overcoming injury, making time for additional strengths exercises and physio appointments, all fitted around his usual work and home commitments – seeing him live out his ambition was thrilling.
And it reminded me of the work-life balance lessons I learned from my own marathon experience.
Running a marathon isn’t the most obvious or effective path to a balanced lifestyle
For starters, the commitment it takes is really time-consuming. And the pain is real. So, also taking into account the periods you’re out of action due to rest and recovering from injury, I’d say marathon training occupies more time than your average non-professional sportsperson spends exercising.
Invariably, this involves reprioritising other things in life, which in turn can impact the people around you – those that live with you, for example, or who rely on you.
Nevertheless, thousands upon thousands of people do it every year, all around the world. So clearly there’s something in it.
My main take-aways
Exercise is often an activity that enhances a person’s sense of balance. Just last month, my podcast guest Dolly Jones described the recalibrating effect of running around her local park when her balance feels off-kilter.
While running a marathon is on a completely different level from a park run, many of the same principles still apply:
- The impact and reward of setting yourself ambitious targets that push you out of your comfort zone is boundless
- “Engaging your core” – both physically and mentally – can provide focus, clarity and an inner compass to guide decision-making
- Pacing yourself sustainably and with care to avoid burning out can make all the difference in enabling you to attain your goals
If you want to read more on this, take a look at my 2022 blog post, Marathon Running and the Pursuit of Balance.
One moment in time
Anyone that has watched or run the London Marathon will tell you that the atmosphere is electric. On race day – both as a runner and a spectator – I felt the positive energy transfer between runners and the crowds. It is palpable.
Do people generally encourage one another like this – in work, in life?
Without an agenda, just genuinely wishing someone to persevere in something they’ve chosen to do?
Some 59,000 ran the London Marathon last week. What difference would it make if each person took it upon themselves to champion one another the way people do on race day? With colleagues, with friends, with loved ones?
Would people feel more balanced about their choices, and would it alter their definitions of success?
I don’t know. But I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to try.
Everyone has a marathon of sorts going on in their lives, at one time or another.
A little bit of cheerleading can go a long way.